parsifal
Colonel
Yes, but another important component in a DB attack is momentum. Go too slow and the bomb will not have enough momentum to effect adequate penetration for the bomb type being used. Go too slow, and/or too shallow and you greatly increase vulnerability to AA defenses. Another important component is training. Training is critical when conducting a steep DB attack, more so against a moving target. If you don't have it, and practice it, it'll be a difficult maneuver to pull off, as was the case with the VMSB squadron at Midway flying SB2U's. Due to inexperience they conducted a GB attack vs a traditional full on DB attack.
Hi Nikademus
Actually aircraft speed has no impact on the maximum speed of an object, that's a function of the terminal velocity of the projectile. Only if the aircraft was travelling faster than the terminal velocity of the bomb would aircraft speed result in the bomb falling faster than its terminal velocity, and even then, only if the bomb was not dropped with sufficient altitude to decelerate back to terminal velocity before impact. An aircraft releasing a bomb at a speed less than a terminal velocity will reduce the time needed to reach terminal velocity, but in no way affect that maximum terminal velocity. The question therefore is whether either the Swordfish, or the Stuka are travelling at above terminal velocity.
A free-falling object achieves its terminal velocity when the downward force of gravity (Fg) equals the upward force of drag (Fd). This causes the net force on the object to be zero, resulting in an acceleration of zero.
I don't know what the terminal velocity for a bomb would be typically, but for a speed skydiver, its close to 650mph . All the delivery aircraft travelling at a speed less than this will do is enable the projectile to reach that terminal velocity faster, not that the projectile will actually travel faster
I think what this means is that a swordfish dropping a bomb, and wishing the bomb to reach its terminal velocity before impact, would need to release its bomb earlier than say a Ju-87/ if we assume the dive speed for a Ju-87 to be 200 knots and the dive speed of the Swordfish to be 100 knots, it will take the bomb released by the Swordfish an additional 4 seconds to reach terminal velocity. In that 4 seconds the Swordfish will have travelled 222 metres. That means the release altitude of the Swordfish is 222 metres above that of the Stuka. Given the greater accuracy that comes with a slower descent, I don't think that would make any difference to bombing accuracy, and absolutely no difference to the penetration capabilities of the bomb, since the bomb would hit the ground at the same speed
As far as training is concerned, the FAA swordfish sqdns did have some prcatice at divebombing, particularly the air groups working on the Ark Royal . Probably not as much as the SG crews operating with FKII, but enough to qualify as being proficient.
Hi Nikademus
Actually aircraft speed has no impact on the maximum speed of an object, that's a function of the terminal velocity of the projectile. Only if the aircraft was travelling faster than the terminal velocity of the bomb would aircraft speed result in the bomb falling faster than its terminal velocity, and even then, only if the bomb was not dropped with sufficient altitude to decelerate back to terminal velocity before impact. An aircraft releasing a bomb at a speed less than a terminal velocity will reduce the time needed to reach terminal velocity, but in no way affect that maximum terminal velocity. The question therefore is whether either the Swordfish, or the Stuka are travelling at above terminal velocity.
A free-falling object achieves its terminal velocity when the downward force of gravity (Fg) equals the upward force of drag (Fd). This causes the net force on the object to be zero, resulting in an acceleration of zero.
I don't know what the terminal velocity for a bomb would be typically, but for a speed skydiver, its close to 650mph . All the delivery aircraft travelling at a speed less than this will do is enable the projectile to reach that terminal velocity faster, not that the projectile will actually travel faster
I think what this means is that a swordfish dropping a bomb, and wishing the bomb to reach its terminal velocity before impact, would need to release its bomb earlier than say a Ju-87/ if we assume the dive speed for a Ju-87 to be 200 knots and the dive speed of the Swordfish to be 100 knots, it will take the bomb released by the Swordfish an additional 4 seconds to reach terminal velocity. In that 4 seconds the Swordfish will have travelled 222 metres. That means the release altitude of the Swordfish is 222 metres above that of the Stuka. Given the greater accuracy that comes with a slower descent, I don't think that would make any difference to bombing accuracy, and absolutely no difference to the penetration capabilities of the bomb, since the bomb would hit the ground at the same speed
As far as training is concerned, the FAA swordfish sqdns did have some prcatice at divebombing, particularly the air groups working on the Ark Royal . Probably not as much as the SG crews operating with FKII, but enough to qualify as being proficient.
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